I photographed this digital live sound video last year, at the Oak Park Society of Model Engineers,H.O Scale Model Railroad Club.

One of several favorites amongst the many Chicago railroad's I had followed when I was growing up on the near southwest side of Chicago during the 1970's, was the Illinois Central and their post 1972 succesor Illinois Central Gulf.

Fellow club member Mitch, was operating His early 1970's era Illinois Central freight train across the club's old Missisippi River bridge during this particular Wednsday night session.

His train complete with an orange and white post 1967 color scheme Illinois Central EMD roadswitcher, brought back some happy memories for Myself, as I lived just north of the Illinois Central Iowa Division mainline in My old neighborhood many years ago.

Be sure to come down to the Eisenhower Public Library in Harwood Heights Illinois on Saturday, May 12th, 2012 from 1:00 until 3:00 PM!

Eddie K from the internet site Eddie's Railfan Page, will be hosting a multi media photo slideshow, video and lecture presentation about Chicago's Kiddieland Amusement Park in Melrose Park Illinois ( 1928 - 2009) as well as other now long gone amusement parks from Chicago's historic past.

I took this photograph one lovely Autum morning, back in October of 2006.

Seen here in the bright morning sunshine, is the station sign of the Metra ex Milwaukee Road station at Western Avenue. This is a nice place to go railfanning if You can find a parking space, as there are two Metra coach yards nearby with plenty of switching movements.

Well folks, another Summer will hopefuly soon be upon us here in the greater Chicagoland area.

One machine that certainly gets a workout that time of the year at many local fast food restaurants, is the Taylor soft serve ice cream dispensing machine. Everybody from little Mom and Pop owned neighborhood hot dog stands, to fast food giants like Burger King and Arby's, put these machines to good use.

While some people associate these food industry machines as being a seasonal thing, die hards like Myself and a few others who enjoy an occasional ice cream cone or shake, enjoy them all year long.

A local railroad branchline that served the industries in My old neighborhood on the near southwest side of Chicago that I had grown up with, was the former Atchinson, Topeka & Santa Fe's I.N line, wich prior to 1972 was the Illinois Northern Railroad.

The Santa Fe's I.N branchline, operated from the A,T & S,F Corwith Yard, headed north and crossed the Illinois Rt I 55 Stevenson Expressway, crossed the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, and curved northeast as it passed through Cicago's Little Village neighborhood. The line continued past the Cook County Jail on West 26th Street between South California and South Sacramento Avenues (Where there was a run around siding track ) and headed east up an embankent, where it terminated and interchanged with the Burlington Northern at South Western and Blue Island Avenues, at the western edge of Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood.

Through ut the 1970's and 80's, the Santa Fe served this line with a switching local from Monday thru Friday.

I recent years, traffic declined so badly to the point, that succesor railroad BNSF Railway, leased the line to DRS Rail Services in 2000, and switched the line only as needed.

In the past two years or so, the BNSF Railway abandoned the old I.N branchline due to an almost total lack of online business.

The old Santa Fe I.N branchline, was indeed My old neighborhood railroad. If I use My imagination I can still hear the distant sound of the arriving outbound I.N local around 10:00 AM, crossing South Kedzie Avenue at West 28th Street with a cut of box cars in tow.

For many years, a popular railroad that operated on the far southeast side of Chicago and points east, was the Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad. This railroad wich became a fallen flag railroad many years ago, featured locomotives like this EMD model GP 30 roadswitcher locomotive, in a simple but tasteful black and white color scheme.

I took this photograph last night, at the Oak Park Society of Model Engineers,H.O Scale Model Railroad Club.

Fellow club memeber Rich, owns and operates this recently released Bachman Spectrum Series H.O Scale Model, of a 1918 vintage Baldwin light 2-10-2 freight service locomotive from the Seaboard Air Line Railroad.

These locomotives were built in 1918, under the supervision of the United States Railway Administration during World War 1, under the leadership of U.S President Woodrow Wilson.

American railroads were greatly underpowered to meet the exhausting task of moving wartime traffic during this time, as many railroads were using locomotives that were smaller, outdated and not suited for the task at hand. The U.S.R.A created by President Woodrow Wilson, created several standard and dependable modern steam locomotives, that would change the face of American mainline railroading.

The 2-10-2 type shown here with small driving wheels, were used on heavy drag freight trains and transfer runs.

The Bachman model shown here, comes equipped with DCC and sound. This is a powerful and efficient model just like the prototype U.S.R.A 2-10-2's were in daily service. This model can pull a lenghty cut of cars on the club layout with ease.

I took this photo one hot Summer day 4 years ago, back in June of 2008.

A southbound Metra local traveling over the Metra / Milwaukee District northline, (Ex Milwaukee Road.) is viewed passing underneath the Union Pacific Railroad's former Chicago & NorthWestern Railroad freight only cut off line at Northbrook Illinois near Techny.

Welcome aboard Eddie's Railfan Page, from the city of Chicago Illinois USA.

I took this photograph a few days ago, in northwest suburban Des Plaines Illinois.

Seen here, is the Dempster Street railroad crossing. This crossing guards the many transfer freight train movements, that operate over the Union Pacific Railroad's former Chicago & NorthWestern Railroad freight only cut off line.

This line passes through the Techny Illinois area near Northbrook Illinois, and is sometimes refered to by local Chicago area railfans, as the"U.P Techny Line".

This freight only railroad artery, keeps freight trains off of the Metra / Milwaukee District (Ex Milwaukee Road) northline to Fox Lake Illinois south of Northbrook Illinois, and the Union Pacific's former Chicago & Northwestern Railroad northline as well.

Unit coal trains from the Union Pacific and the BNSF Railway enroute to the Wisconsin Electric Power Company plant at Pleasant Prairie Wisconsin, are a common daily sight traveling over this rail line, as are unit grain trains from the Canadian Pacific Railroad.

I took this photograph recently, at the Oak Park Society of Model Engineers,H.O Scale Model Railroad Club.

I enjoy being a member here for several reasons. One of those reasons being the unique taste, interests and variety of equipment operating on the club layout on behalf of My fellow members.

On any given operating session, this Broadway Limited Imports model of a streamlined 1940's era New York Central Railroad J 3 Class 4-6-4 Hudson passenger service steam locomotive, will operate side by side with modern double stack container trains.

Model railroad clubs are fun and unique places to see yesterday's and today's equipment operating side by side.

I found this photograph of an Atchinson, Topeka & Santa Fe Class C 3 steel caboose on the internet.

This particular caboose, was photographed at El Paso Texas in the year of 1968. The Atchinson, Topeka & Santa Fe embarked on a major steel caboose rebuilding program between 1966 and 1968. Originally painted in a very plain primer like Mineral Brown or Box Car Red color schem with very minimal markings in the form of reporting marks initials that read A,T,S,F...these caboose were rebuilt with fewer windows, a bright red color scheme with a big yellow Santa Fe logo below the cupola and cushioned underframes.

The Santa Fe Class C 3 caboose that is shown here, were modified from the older standard steel cupola cabooses from the steam era, but did not recieve the refinements that the Class C 1, C 2 and C 4 Class cabooses recieved during the rebuilding.

The C 3 car shown here with the yellow painted cupola, retains it's original steam era sliding side windows.
The C 3 Class cabooses, were not used on road freights, and were restricted to slow moving transfer freight trains. These cars did not recieve the cushion underframes during their rebuilding.

This is a basic and relatively un modified Santa Fe steam era caboose with a new paint job and little else.

I took this lovely end of the day photograph last September, during a visit to Chicago's Brookfield Zoo.

My Wife Cheryl, My Brother In Law Chris and Myself...were enjoying a pleasant visit to the Brookfield Zoo, and we were ending up the day's activities with a walk along the Zoo's Indian Trail along the western edge of the zoo near Salt Creek.

The zoo was preparing to close at this time, as park rangers began to escort patrons to the appropriate exits.

This lovely sunset was captured on the lake along the Indian Trail as We were preparing to leave for the evening. Wolves from the nearby Wolf Woods exhibit enclosure, were actually begining to howl at the approaching nightfall.

In the eastern United States, the De Camp Bus Lines provided suburban bus service in New York City and in New Jersey.

The ubiquitous General Motors TDH Series Fishbowl windshield "New Look" buses that were introduced by GM in 1959, made a lasting impact here in the United States and in Canada. For many years it was the standard transit bus of choice for many transit agencies across the nation.

This particular version of the GM TDH Series New Look bus, is a suburban version with only front doors and no rear side doors like on a standard city transit bus. These buses were also equipped by some transit agencies, with reclying seats, foot rests and luggage racks much like on a long distance Greyhound bus.

This photograph was taken at the Lincoln Tunnel by photographer Joe Testagrosse in June of 1981.

Seen here along the south side of West 111th Street near South Springfield Avenue in Chicago's Mount Greenwood neighborhood , is a then disappearing 1960's era Chicago Transit Authority metal bus stop sign.

These signs were in the process of being replaced by "New" blue and white ones that are seen today all over the city of Chicago Illinois.

I found this mid 1970's era photograph of a Dayton Ohio electric trolleybus at My Link page
Tom's Trolleybus Pictures, located to the right of Your computer screen at http://www.trolleybuses.net/

The city of Dayton Ohio, has long been a place where electric powered trolleybuses are still reigning strong after all these years. While Chicago and many other citties in the United States and Canada eventually phased out electric trolleybuses for various mechanical or economic concerns in regards to the maintenance and costs involved in daily operation, the electric trolleybuses have stood the test of time in Dayton.

Dayton Ohio, operated a large fleet of coaches from the Marmon Harrington Corporation during the 1950's and 60's and well in to the 1970's. The Dayton RTA and later Miami Valley Transit Authority, painted their buses for many years in this attractive yellow and cream colorscheme with blue trim.

Although the Marmons were eventually replaced by more modern Flyers and later Skodas from Europe, a small handful of the Dayton Marmon Harrington electric trolleybuses survive today.

An eastbound suburban Pace transit bus wearing Chicago Bears NFL shrink wrapped decals, is photographed on West Touhy Avenue, just a few blocks east of the intersection of North Western Avenue on the far north side of the city of Chicago IL.

The Eisenhower Public Library located at 4613 N Oketo Avenue in Harwood Heights Illinois, welcomes local Chicago historian and photographer Edward Kwiatkowski to the library's upstairs meeting room on Saturday, May 12th from 1 until 3 PM.

Eddie will be hosting a fun and memory filled multi media slideshow, video and lecture presentation about the now long gone Kiddieland Amusement Park that existed in Melrose Park Illinois until 2009, as well as several other Chicago are amusement parks from the past.

I grew up on the near southwest side of Chicago Illinois during the 1960's, 70's and 80's...and I fondly remember a little ice cream stand that also sold hamburgers on South Harlem Avenue near West 57th Street known as Prince Castles.

Prince Castles was a quaint local little establishment that was located along the west side of South Harlem Avenue, just north of West 57th Street in southwest suburbn Summit Illinois. My family and I used to stop there occasionally for ice cream during the summertime of any given year.

I believe that this place was in buisness here, until it had closed possibly during the early 1990's.

Prince Castles was located just immediately south of the long gone Candlelight Dinner Theatre Playhouse, wich was demolished by the mid 1990's.

The entire property was redeveloped during the mid to late 1990's with a Portillo's Hot Dogs replacing the demolished Candlelight Dinner Theatre Playhouse, and a short lived and very "GREASY TASTING" place known as Krispy Kreme donuts at the former Prince Castles ice cream store site.

The old Krispy Kremem donuts building is long abandoned and standing today as an Eyesore along South Harlem Avenue.

This old advertisement, was sent to Me by a friend named Terry who writes to Me all the time.

Thank You Terry!
This old advertisement brought back some happy memories for Me today.

A westbound Burlington Northern / Early Metra commuter rail train enroute to Aurora Illinois, is viewed making the station stop at Harlem Avenue in west suburban Berwyn Illinois on a lovely Springtime afternoon.

The old Cock Robin ice cream shop store in west suburban Brookfield Illinois, across the street from the Metra commuter rail station, had just recently closed for good when I had taken this photograph.

Although I did not reside in Brookfield Illinois, I made many trips by car with My family here during the 1970's. I came here many times on My own during the 1980's and 90's until the place eventually closed for good in 2007.

It was a tasty ice cream shop that also served Hamburgers as well. I seem to recall, that they had this unique ice cream scoop that made cube shaped ice cream layers on their cones.

I miss this place today, and the happy memories I had come to know here.

Two retired New York City Transit Authority "Red Bird" rapid transit cars that were acquired by the Illinois Railway Museum in the town of Union Illinois, are seen recently making their first runs at the museum, after being re equipped with a trolley pole.

I found this photograph at My Link Page Fallen Flags.Org, located to the right of Your computer screen at www.rr-fallenflags.org

For many years, the former Atchinson, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad, was one of My all time favorite Chicago railroads, going back to My childhood days.

This photograph was taken at the Atchinson, Topeka & Santa Fe's Corwith Yard facility in Chicago's Brighton Park neighborhood, back in May of 1980.

I was attending My Junior year semester at nearby Curie High School when this photograph was taken. Who knows? I just may have started My morning that day, with a little lineside observation railfanning at nearby West 49th Street and South Lawndale Avenue before school started that morning, wich I sometimes did as I enjoyed taking morning walks in that area back then.

Unfortunately...I did not own a camera of My own back then, let alone any money to buy film.

I photographed this digital live sound video recently, at the Oak Park Society of Model Engineers,H.O Scale Model Railroad Club.

Myself and a few other members of the club, are also fans of the former Southern Pacific Railroad. The famous red, orange and black "Daylight" passenger trains of the old S.P, were lengendary in their days in the west coast states of Arizona, California and Oregon.

With a little immagination, the former S.P could have operated a train out of Chicago known as "The Oak Park Daylight". May Chicago railfan's would have appreciated that. So here it is passing by on the club layout.

This is Eddie K, Your host and photographer hee at Edie's Railfan Page.

Be sure to visit the Elmwood Park Illinois Public Library on Saturday, May 19th from 1:00 until 3:00 PM. I will be hosting a multi media -photo slideshow and lecture presentation about Chicago's historic and now unfortunately "Long Gone" amusement parks of the past.

If You can remember going to fun summertime places like Riverview Park in Chicago Illinois, Adventure Land in Addison Illinois, Playland Park in Justice Illinois. Kiddieland in Melrose Park Illinois..or any number of these now long gone places You may have visited with Your families when You were growing up in Chicago many years ago...then You won't wan't to miss this fun ,family oriented presentation at the Elmwood Park Public Library.

The Library is located at 1 Conti Parkway Circle in Elmwood Park Illinois. Admission is free.

I tok this photograph last November, at the Scott Street railroad crossing in near northwest suburban Franklin Park Illinois.

An everyday occurance here at this location, are constant and sometimes lenghty train delays, caused by the many inbound and outbound transfer trains from the nearby Canadian Pacific Bensenville Yard facility. This very slow moving westbound Auto Rack train, was in the process of entering Bensenville Yard near Chicago's O'Hare International Airport.

Welcome aboard Eddie's Railfan Page, from the city of Chicago Illinois USA.

I took this photograph after work one evening last week, in near northwest suburban Elmwood Park Illinois USA.

It was a lovely Springtime evening, and I could not resist the temptation to enjoy a refreshing evening excercise walk after driving a bus all day.

Seen here around sunset, is the beautiful and tree lined West Diversey Avenue at the corner of North 75th Avenue. Those vintage and quiete rustic twin street lamps on the tall lamp posts that line Diversey Avenue, add a nice tasty touch of class to the neighborhood community.

I was born in the city of Chicago Illinois, during the year of 1962, and had grown up on the near southwest side of the city.

A lifelong favorite railroad that had served the city of Chicago in this area of the city, was the former Atchinson, Topeka & Santa Fe.

I fondly remember their blue and yellow color scheme that the A,T & S,F began to paint their locomotives in begining in 1960. This color scheme was replaced in 1972, by what was known as their "Yellow Bonnet" color scheme.

I could still recall Santa Fe freight trains entering or departing from Corwith Yard in Chicago's Brighton Park neighborhood, wearing the 1960's era blue and yellow color scheme during the early to mid 1970's. Being a member of the Oak Park Society of Model Engineers,H.O Scale Model Railroad Club, I model and operate trains I had grown up with in Chicago during the 1960's and 70's era.

Part of the attraction of being a railfan for Myself, is that there was at one time a great variety of railroad styles of operation in Chicago many years ago.

I was born too late to experience it Myself firsthand here in Chicago, but nonetheless...I have always had a fascination with the once many electric interurban railroads and electric streetcar lines, that once had served the greater Chicagoland area,

I found this photograph from the former Chicago & NorthWestern Railroad at My Link page Yesteryear Depot.Com, wich is located to the right of Your computer screen at http://www.yesteryeardepot.com/

When I was growing up in the city of Chicago Illinois during the 1960's, 70's and 80's eras, I fondly remember the Chicago & NorthWestern Railroad.

I could remember their spartan and utilitarian yellow and green color scheme on their diesel locomotives and cabooses. Originally, they used a darker shade of yellow, but at some point in the early 1980's...began experimenting with a highly visible but rather ugly Lime of yellow /green color scheme. Eventually before the Union Pacific bought them out through merger during the 1990's, they began utilizing the older darker shade of yellow, as it had weathered much better and was more attractive.

This photograph of Chicago & NorthWestern Railroad EMD model GP 38-2 roadswitcher locomotive # 4707, was taken by fellow railfan photographer Rick Bames on location at Council Bluffs Iowa, on the date of September 3rd, 1993.

I took this photograph on an overcast Winter afternoon, back in December of 2008.

An eastbound Canadian Pacific freight train being pulled by a former Soo Line EMD roadswitcher locomotive acquired through merger in 1990, is viewed departing from northwest suburban Franklin Park Illinois.

I took this photo during an August 2008 family sightseeing brunch cruise, aboard the Spirit of Chicago Oddysey # 2 sightseeing boat.

This wonderful sightseeing boat cruise, departs from Chicago's Navy Pier. A very savory brunch and live band performing on the lower enclosed deck, make for a very pleasant sightseeing experience along Chicago's lakefront.

The Eisenhower Public Library located at 4613 N Oketo Avenue in Harwood Heights Illinois, welcomes local Chicago historian and photographer Edward Kwiatkowski to the library's upstairs meeting room on Saturday, May 12th from 1:00 until 3:00 PM.

Eddie will be hosting a multi media photo slideshow and lecture event entitled "Kiddieland Memories", wich honors the recently closed Kiddieland Amusement Park that existed at North and First Avenues in Melrose Park Illinois from 1928 until 2009.

If You are a fan of Amusement Park Subjects, then You definately will wan't to stop in and see the show at the Eisenhower Public Library.

Aside from the photos and video clips of Kiddieland that were taken during the park's last few seasons of operation, Eddie will also be showing photos of some of Chicago's other now long gone and forgotten amusement parks from the past as well.

If You could remember fun Summertime places like Riverview Park in Chicago Illinois, Adventure land in Addison Illinois or even Playland Park in Justice Illinois...then please come and see this fun family oriented event at the Eisenhower Public Library on Saturday, May 12th.

If You have any photos or home movies of any of these places transfered to a DVD disc, You are encouraged to please bring them down and share Your memories.

I took this photograph recently, at the Oak Park Society of Model Engineers,H.O Scale Model Railroad Club.

During the 1970's, there were still many railroad junctions across America and the greater Chicagoland area that were still using interlocking towers at the crosstracks and interchanges.

My H.O Scale model of an orange 1970's era side door caboose from the former Illinois Central Gulf, helps to recreate that era on the club layout, at a location known as East Dubuque tower and junction.

The caboose is manufactured by a company known as Centrailia Car Shops.